Inside Paul Goldschmidt's quest to recapture MVP form: 'There's not a magic pill'

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Hitless in his first 32 at-bats of the month, in danger of recording the first five-strikeout game of his decorated 14-year career when he stepped to the plate representing the tying run with two outs in the ninth inning this past Saturday, Paul Goldschmidt laced his hardest hit in two weeks. 

The 103.3 mph single was not enough to complete a Cardinals comeback, running their losing streak to seven games at the time, but the sting of defeat could be a little more tolerable if the swing could unlock anything that might help the scuffling former MVP find his way. 

A day later, Goldschmidt homered for the first time in 16 games, recorded two hard-hit base hits and smashed a third hard-hit ball 101 mph off the bat on a lineout. The performance brought a smile to manager Oli Marmol's face, helped snap the Cardinals' skid and sparked a more important question: 

Has Goldschmidt finally found his rhythm? 

The answer might play as significant a role as anything in the fate of a stumbling St. Louis club that is once again stunned to be sitting in last place. 

But it's one that even Goldschmidt, even after some encouraging signs over the past week, can't know with certainty as he fights the inconsistencies that have plagued both his performance and that of a bottom-five Cardinals offense. 

"I feel good," Goldschmidt told FOX Sports in Anaheim after the Cardinals left Milwaukee with their losing skid over, "but I've said that [before] and gone out, like the other day, and struck out my first four at-bats."

Early on, it seemed like every time he might break out of his funk, another spell followed. He homered on a three-hit performance on Opening Day, then didn't get another extra-base hit in the next 20 games. He